RE Department

Religious Education at Churchdown School Academy centres on the twin aim of learning about religion and learning from religion. It is both an academic subject as well as allowing students to discover the society in which we live as well as identifying their role and place within it. The subject nurtures self-respect and respect for others. Our aim is to educate pupils so that they are interested in and can understand the religious beliefs, values and traditions of others whilst also being willing to assess their own beliefs in contrast to the beliefs of others.

Although religious education at Churchdown School Academy explores aspects of Christianity and other core world religions, we do not presuppose individual commitment. Indeed, we seek to make the content accessible to all pupils whether they belong to a religious tradition or not. The programmes of study at all key stages are underpinned by the recommendations of the Gloucestershire Agree Syllabus. The subject is studied by all pupils at KS3 and KS4 and is a popular choice for students at KS5

KS3 Overview

Year 7 pupils begin by investigating ‘What is Religion?’ before going on to investigate The Person of Jesus and Christianity in the Modern World. Pupils also look at the religion of Sikhism and end with a study of the life of The Buddha

Year 8 pupils begin with an investigating of the religions of Sikhism and Buddhism before taking a more thematic approach to their studies looking at The Environment and The Concept of God. The latter aims to introduce pupils to the skills and reasoning of philosophy.

The Year 9 syllabus is a preparation for the GCSE years to follow. Pupils look at the big ethical and philosophical questions of religious studies such as Life after Death, Wealth and Poverty, Evil and Suffering and Medical Ethics.

Learning in the department exhibits a wide range of valuable, desirable and sought-after personal skills and attributes preparing pupils to be lifelong learners.. Through studying Religious Education pupils are able to demonstrate their ability in the skills of investigation, interpretation, reflection, evaluation, empathy, analysis, synthesis, expression, application of knowledge and discernment.

KS4 Overview

2016 sees a syllabus change for Religious Education. Pupils will be following the syllabus of the AQA examination board. They will study a number of ethical and philosophical issues through the medium of Christianity and secular viewpoints. The second religion studied on this course will be Buddhism. Pupils will investigate the teachings of both religions; they will also investigate issues such as Peace and Justice, Medical Ethics, Equality and The nature of God and religious belief.

KS5 Overview

Religious Studies moves to the new system of studying AS and A level as two separate qualifications in September 2016. In doing so it will continue with the EDXECEL examination board but will also include the study of Christianity as a discreet subject as well as looking at its impact on philosophy and ethical theories and ideas. Studying Philosophy and Ethics at A Level is both challenging and rewarding. Pupils are required to use a range of thinking skills to learn the theories and then apply them to a range of ethical dilemmas and situations. The skills learnt in studying this course are valued by all universities regardless of the course studied at degree level and by employers who appreciate employees with critical thinking and problem solving abilities.